Count Dracula

by Diane
(Brooklyn, NY)

Count Dracula is truly The Cat From Hell, but he is loved and adored. After losing Handsome, I was intent on getting a cat that resembled him and placed an ad online.

The ad was answered by New Yorkers for Companion Animals, who said they had the cat I was looking for.

Yes, he was a huge, rugged, long-haired male tuxedo they assured me. They called him "Richard the Lionhearted." I was able to view his photo online. He was *exactly* what I was looking for.

When I asked why his eyes were narrow slits, they said that it was a bad photo. A day later, he was delivered to my office. I peeked into the carrier and was overjoyed. He sure was big and regal.. and he had silky, long fur.

I left the office early and took him home in a taxi. As soon as we arrived home, I removed him from the carrier and that is when the growling began. Before I had a chance to wonder why he was growling, his fangs were embedded in my arm and his eyes, once again, were two narrow slits.

He still bites and growls constantly and his eyes are still narrowed to slits most of the time. Why? Because he is one angry cat. Count Dracula (as I named him) does not want to be cuddled... hence the growling and biting.

It has taken many years, but he has taken a 99% turn-around. Happily, he has become my constant friend and companion. He is forever at my side, purring away like mad, and follows me from room to room so that I am never out of his sight.

He enjoys sitting at the computer while I work, all the time keeping one paw on my hand as I move the mouse.

So why do I say a "99%" turn-around? Because when I do something that he doesn't like, such as trying to comb knots from his long fur, he reverts to day one: He begins to growl, his eyes narrow even more, and then he sinks his fangs into me for the kill... all the while growling like there is no tomorrow.

Visit him, but enter quietly and at your own risk as this cat does not like company. diabellalovescats.com/dracula.htm